Language Access Coordinator Contact
Robin Wolfert
Program Coordinator
PO Box 30048
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 373-9526
Email: languageaccess@courts.mi.gov
Website
Code of Ethics or Rules of Professional Conduct
Interpreter Statutes and Rules
Coordination/Supervision of Interpreters: At the local trial court level
Cost of Interpreter Services (including fees to freelance and salaries of staff interpreters): Unknown
Budget for Language Access Program (not including direct interpreter services): Unknown
Funding for Language Access Program: At the local trial court level
Compensation Range for Salaried Interpreters (spoken language): Unknown
Compensation Range for Salaried Interpreters (sign language): Unknown
Compensation Range for Freelance Interpreters (certified spoken language): Unknown
Compensation Range for Freelance Interpreters (certified sign language): Unknown
Difference in Pay between Spanish and LOTS Interpreters: Unknown
Minimum Certification Requirements:
The State Court Administrative Office certifies foreign language interpreters. Courts may use provisionally or fully certified interpreters to comply with the court rule requirement to use a certified interpreter. Courts may use interpreters who have passed similar certification exams in other states; however, this website will only contain information on those who have passed certification in Michigan.
Persons who want to be certified as foreign language interpreters in Michigan’s courts must pass two tests demonstrating their abilities to interpret. The two tests are:
1. A written examination demonstrating English proficiency and knowledge of general courtroom procedures. A person must pass the written examination to be eligible to take the oral examination .
2. An oral examination consisting of:
-sight translation of a document from English to another language and from another language to English;
-consecutive interpretation from English to another language ("target" language) and from the target language into English; and
-simultaneous interpretation from English to a target language and from the target language to English.
A person who has passed all three portions of the oral exam is fully certified. A person who has passed the sight translation and either the consecutive or simultaneous interpretation portions of the oral examination is considered provisionally certified. Certified interpreters must also register with the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) annually and meet all the requirements set forth by the SCAO to be listed as certified on the website’s certified interpreter list. A person who has passed the consecutive portion of the oral examination alone is considered Qualified.